The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-14
The Allotment Surveys Stopped by Threats
of Violence, and the Indians Showing an
Aggressive and Very Ugly Temper.
Attitude of United States Government
as to the Behring Sea Seizures.
1t Claims Jurisdiction Over the Entire Body
of Water-Status of Indians as Citizens
Miscellaneous Washington News.
The Trouble at the Crow Agency aH(
Causax Leading IhGretn.


The Trouble at the Grow Agency and the
Causes Leading Thereto
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-The Secretary of the
Interior. late this afternoon. received informa-
ton that the Indians the Crow Creek and
Lower Brule reservations in Dakota had, by
their threatened violence. stopped the allotment
surveys, in progress on the reservation, and that
further trouble is feared. Secretary Lamar has
had a consultation with General Sheridan. who
leaves tomorrow for the West, and it is said
steps will be Immediately taken to meet the
emergency and resume the work.
The Secretary of the Interior to day received
a telegraphic report from Special Agent Howard
On the situation at the Crow agency, in Mon
tana. The agent Says
son Friday evening, the Both of last month,
everything was quiet and peaceful. and the In
dian families W ere nearly all around the agency
to draw their rations on the following day. Tho
eency butchers were slaughtering cattle.
large train of Indian freight wagons were being
unoaded of agency goods into the warehouses.
and every thing was busy and cheerful Agent
Wiilismsand his wife were on the porch of his
house. he reading his mail. when about 5oclock
the young buck .Msdicnernan' and about fifteen
or sixteen of his followers rode through the agen-
cy (the buildings are in the form of horse shoe)
to the slaughter-house. and then partially sepa-
which. five or six in number, headed by
this Medicineman, all in full war paint
and feathers, and we'll armed, rode around the
agency buildings and fred into the roofs of all
tina houses, particularly at the agents Office, on
the east side. where the agency Interpreter was
standing. Mediterranean then put the gun he
carried close to the interpreters stomach and
slowly raised it up and fired it over his head.
He then came to the agents dwelling on the
west side and fired voey at the roof. The
Indians very defiant and insolent and
there not the slightest provocation for it
There were none of tho agents police nesr at
the time. but had thsre been they could not
Dot have arrested those fellows without muoh
bloodshed. and. 1 believe, q general massacre. I
think the agent acted very wisely in not at
tempting to arrest them with the police force.
Two troops of cavalry arrived the ground
about 10 P NJ but the officer IN charge did not
have Instructions to make any arrests. but to
protect the agent, employees and property. After
the arrival of the troops this same party of In
dians and followers continued to make hostile
demonstrations, and sent word TO the soldiers
that they were ready for them. at the same time
removing all their squaws, old men and children
from their tepees to the opposite side OF the
river. The troops went into camp about IL P.
The agent, thinking everything 10 have
lights in the house. The d.fant gang Of Indians
next went to the traders store and demanded
ammunition aud were. of course, refused They
then fred into the store, and the traders
wife and clerks had to barrcade the windows
with bales of blankets to protect themselves.
There were five or six bullet holes shot through
the building. The gang Kept up their snoofing
around the agency building. openly defying the
soldiers, nearly all night, and making night
hideous with their yells. From the traders
store they again came to the agents house, hav-
ing been reinforced by several followers. and
made hostile demonstrations. On the porch of
the house were the agency inspector and a few
friendly Indians when 'Boy-thatGrans chief OF
tile Indian police, reported to the interpreter
that those fellows said that they had come to
kill the agent
ION Saturday morping two more troops of
cavalry arrived at the agency. and for five OF six
hours this gang and some sixty or seventy fol-
lowers stationed themselves on top of a bill
overlooking the agency and about quarter of
mile from where the troops were camped. and
dared and defed them to come up there and
take them. In the evening they disappeared
and have been planting the seeds of discord
abusing all Crows being old women because
they will not join them to fight the whitss
These Indians have nor only stolen horses from
the Plegans but from tho white settlers
along their line of plundering. This Medicine
man. who is the leader of this bad element of
Indisns, gained his notoriety very recently.
the young Crew bucks. He is a very bad In
dian, aud If he and his followers are not ar
rested all the progress these Indians have made
will be lost for years to come. and the whole
Crow nation completely dsmoraiized. These
fellows made many threats which / have not
embodied here. The longer the arrest of tho
fellows is put off the moro danger there will
be-"
The agent and his employees quietly and
cautiously attending to their usual duties, but
on the outside all is Decentralization, Indians be-
ing gathered together in bands different por-
tons OF the Lutte and Big Horn. having
abandoned their farms and apparently waiting
what will be the result, and also anxiously
fearing raids from tho Piegans, who
ported to be out in several bodies. There is
company of infantry here. General Dudley, the
post commander, has in every particular acted
with promptuess and has rendered two troops
to remain here to-day and tomorrow, during
the issuing of rations but the agent has declined
20 accept them unless to arrest the offending
parties, the presence OF troops only excites
the Indians
General Sheridan leaves for the West to-
probably visit, while aDsent. the Crow
reservation, where trouble now exists ameng
the Indians. This afternoon Secretary Lamar
and General Sheridan had extended confer
ence on the Indian question, and the proper
steps will at once be taken TO meet the emer-
sencv and resume the work which has been
suspended because OF the
Indians. In regard to the troubles
at the Crow Creek reservation, General
Sheridan does not think there will be any seri-
Gus difficulty and he has not yet directed, nor
will he probably order the United States troops
stationed there to arrest the rebeilious Indians.
occur, and that it is better to proceed by peace
able means to deal with the Indians rather than
by force which in their present excited state.
might lead TO general uprising where there
now exists but few disorderlv Indians Secre-
tary Lamar concurs in this view. and will await
developments before he takes any further action
In the matter. trusting to the generally peace
able disposition of the Crows to prevent further
disturbance.